Background 1954 United States Capitol shooting incident

1 background

1.1 independence movement in puerto rico
1.2 puerto rican nationalist party response
1.3 attack preparations

background
independence movement in puerto rico

the puerto rican nationalist party founded on september 17, 1922 people seeking independence. contended that, matter of international law, treaty of paris not empower spanish give no longer theirs. while nationalists , other political parties supported independence, political parties supported autonomy island within formal relationship united states.

during period of unrest, electorate increasingly voted people s democratic party (ppd), 1940 controlled majority in legislature. supported act of 1950 congress, established puerto rico estado libre asociado ( free associated state ), autonomy. people elect own governor, of ppd; bicameral legislature established, , executive functions similar of american states developed. retained responsibility defense , foreign treaties.

puerto rican nationalist party response

the puerto rican nationalist party revolts of 1950s call independence against government. party demanded recognition of 1898 charter of autonomy, , puerto rico s international sovereignty. repudiated status of estado libre asociado, established in 1950 law, continued colonialism.

the nationalist president, pedro albizu campos, ordered armed uprisings on october 30, 1950, in several towns, including peñuelas, mayagüez, naranjito, arecibo , ponce. notable uprisings occurred in utuado, jayuya, , san juan. suppressed puerto rican forces, assisted forces.

in utuado, police killed insurgents after attacked station. in jayuya, insurgents declared free republic of puerto rico after taking control of police station; held city 3 days, until u.s. sent bomber planes, artillery, puerto rican national guard , army troops suppress revolt. in san juan, nationalists attacked governor s residence, intending assassinate governor, luis muñoz marín, unsuccessful.

the national guard, commanded puerto rico adjutant general major general luis r. esteves , under orders of gov. luis muñoz marín, occupy jayuya fight nationalist uprising

the revolts resulted in many casualties: of 28 dead, 16 nationalists, 7 police officers, 1 national guardsman, , 4 uninvolved civilians. of 49 wounded, of 23 police officers, 6 national guardsmen, 9 nationalists, , 11 uninvolved civilians.

the actions not limited puerto rico. 2 puerto rican nationalists, living in new york city @ time, planned assassinate president, harry s. truman. on november 1, 1950, attacked police , secret service gain access blair house in washington, d.c., truman staying during major renovations of white house. 1 nationalist, griselio torresola, killed in attack, white house police officer, leslie coffelt. other, oscar collazo, tried , convicted, , sentenced prison.

acknowledging importance of question of puerto rico s status, truman supported plebiscite in puerto rico in 1952 offering choice between continued direct rule colony , limited autonomy. while 82% of voting approved new constitution , free associated state, or commonwealth, independence not option on ballot , nationalists boycotted election.

attack preparations

don pedro albizu campos

nationalists not satisfied people s vote in 1952 plebiscite. in 1950s, don pedro albizu campos, president of puerto rican nationalist party, had been corresponding prison 34-year-old lolita lebrón. of correspondence discussed nationalist party revolts of 1950. discussed puerto rican governor luis muñoz marín, had succeeded in having puerto rico declared estado libre asociado (free associated state) of u.s.

in 1954, group of nationalists, included lebrón, rafael cancel miranda, irvin flores , andrés figueroa cordero, decided focus world s attention on puerto rico s status, considered colony of u.s. planned attack multiple locations in washington, d.c. force.

albizu campos did not order attack, nationalists continued plan it. lebrón decided lead group and, eventually, attack. lebrón concluded single attack on house of representatives had greater prospect success trying attack multiple targets. chose date of march 1, 1954, coincide opening of conferencia interamericana (interamerican conference) in caracas. lebrón intended call attention puerto rico s independence cause, particularly among latin american countries @ conference.